Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has been discussing some of Arsenal’s young players after their game against Tottenham was called off, including Charlie Patino.
The Gunners asked for their game against Spurs to be postponed this weekend, despite the fact they don’t have an abundance of covid cases within their squad.
Their thin squad has been more of a bi-product of the African Cup of Nations, injuries and suspensions, and while they could have fielded a number of youngsters, the club instead opted to get the game postponed.
Ferdinand names Patino alongside Omari Hutchinson as a player with great talent, stating that the pair will be gutted about these games being called off.
What’s been said about Patino?
The pundit discussed Patino and Arsenal’s other young talents after this postponement.
“Before we move on from that. A player like Patino, he’s a guy you mentor Rio, someone you know well, what would you say?” Ferdinand’s co-host said.
“Proper yeah, he’s a talent. Omari Hutchinson as well. The list goes on, Arsenal have some great young players man. They have some top young players, they have another forward who has just gone out on loan to Middlesbrough. They have players, but these opportunities, they have to wait and be patient, but trust me, these young kids will be gutted when games like this are being called off,” Ferdinand said.
Gutting
It must be absolutely gutting for these young players when matches like this get postponed.
How many times in football history have we seen a young player get a chance off the back of an injury or a suspension only for them to go on to establish themselves in the starting 11?
We’re in danger of losing that element of youth development if clubs are continuously allowed to exploit these rules.
Patino could have burst onto the scene this weekend if he’d played against Spurs, but the postponement has seemingly hampered his chances of playing in this fixture.
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